World Health Day – April 7, 2012

April 7 is World Health Day

World Health Day is celebrated each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 and to raise awareness about a public health priority.

This year’s theme, Aging and health, reminds us that good health can add life to years, enabling older men and women to live longer and remain actively involved in all levels of society.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is taking action to help create the conditions for healthy aging.

We are working with our provincial and territorial health partners, communities and other government departments on a number of fronts, including:

• encouraging communities to become age-friendly;
• understanding the factors that contribute to seniors’ falls and providing falls prevention information for seniors and their families;
• promoting physical activity as part of a healthy, active lifestyle for older Canadians; and
• supporting research to learn how we can better meet the needs of Canadians affected by neurological conditions, including seniors affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

On World Health Day, the Government of Canada encourages all Canadians to take the opportunity to inform themselves and others on how good health adds life to years.